Disk cultivator



( Model) 2 SheetsSheet 1. R. K. SWIFT. DISK GULTIVATOR.

Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

AN DREW BJSRAHAM, PHOYO-UTHO. WASHINGTON. DYC

(No Model.) 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. K. SWIFT.

DISK GULTIVATOR.

No. 550,660. Patented Dec! 3, 1895 la 17 FL 65] n5 6 /80 "JV c 0 Z Z Al- A /f I? i 3/ fi I 5' i A 1 H fnv F2277 (M MM 9fl/g. MW.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

R. K. SIVIFT, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

DISK CUL TlVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,660, dated December3, 1895.

Application filed October 15, 1894.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, R. K. SWIFT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sterling, in the county of IVhiteside and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Disk Cultivators;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in disk cultivators of thatclass i11- tcnded for the cultivation of corn or other crops planted inrows, although certain of the improvements herein described are alsoadapted for use in connection with the ordinary disk harrow and otherparts with shovelcultivator-s.

The objects of my invention are to provide a cultivator which shallpossess certain new and improved means for manipulating the same,whereby the operation will be rendered more eflicient and desirable.

I attain the aforesaid purposes by the employment of the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a rearelevation of a portion of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is abroken plan view. Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the samemachine; and Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail views, one of which, 8,is a broken view.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

A A are the carrying-wheels; B, the main transverse beam, preferablymade of two bars set edgcwise.

O is a split tongue; D D, the disk-gangs interconnected by the usualarch E.

F I are brackets adjustably bolted to the ends of the beam B,respectively, and extending downward to form a pivotal seat G for thespindles II of the carrying-wheels A. Said spindles are horizontallypivoted in said brackets F at G and extend therefrom toward the centerof the machine, and at their inner extremities are respectivelypivotally attached to the cross-bar J, which is pivoted Serial No.526,007. (No model.)

in a horizontal plane at its center J to the under side of the beam B. Avertical footlever K is pivoted at its upper end to the quadrant L,seated rigidly on the beam B and extending rearwardly therefrom. Thelower end of the lever K is provided with a suitable foot-rest K and isflexibly connected a suitable distance from its upper end by means of apitman M to the swing-bar J, near the end of the latter. One of saidlevers K is seated over each disk-gang D.

It is obvious that by the operator placing his left foot upon the lowerend K of the lever K on the left side of the machine and pushing saidlever forward the forward movement of the pitman M will oscillate towardthe left end of the bar J, which will throw forward the inner end of thespindle II and turn the left wheel A to the left. The same movement willthrow back the opposite end of the bar J, carrying with it the inner endof the opposite spindle H, and thereby throw the front end of the rightwheel A to the left, coincidently turning both of the carryingwheelsobliquely in the same direction.

Slight pressure at the lower end of the lever K at the right of themachine will turn both of the carrying-wheels to the right, thusrendering it feasible for the operator to deflect the disk-gangslaterally in either direction by thus turning the carrying-wheels in thedirection desired. I11 a corn-cultivator readiness of deflection isindispensable, so as to avoid cutting into the plants, and also to reachweeds which may be out of the direct line of movement. A slot 13. inbrackets F and 14 in bar J permit of the lateral spacing of wheels A.

The beam N of the disk-gang D is pivotally connected at its forward endto the under side of one of the split tongues G. On the beam N asuitable distance from its forward end is seated the spring 0, havingthe coil 0 and provided at its rear end with the eye 1. Between thespring 0 and beam N there is interposed the adjustable shoe 16, an endview and side elevation of which are shown in Fig. 3. The shoe 16 isheld in place by the bolt 17, which holds the spring 0 011 beam N. Theshoe 16 is provided with various recesses 18, of variant heights, in anyone of which the spring 0 can be placed and which operate to vary theheight of the free end of said spring. The ordinary lifting-lever P isseated to lock on the quadrant L and projected forward therefrom. To theforward end of the lever P there is pivoted the upper end of thevertical rod R, which passes downward through the eye 1 of the spring 0and is provided at its lower extremity with a hook 15, adapted to engagethe horizontal portion of the yoke E, so as to raise or suspend thedisk-gang D when desired. The eye 1 of the spring 0 guides the rod R inits vertical movement, so that when the hook 15 is forced below the yokeE, as hereinafter described, said spring 0 will guide the hook 15 backto engagement with yoke E when the rod R is raised. Anut 2 is seated adjustably on threads formed on the rod R above said eye 1, and when thedisks D are on or in the ground by throwing the lever P forward anyamount of pressure may be exerted upon said disk-gangs through themedium of the spring 0 and the lever P locked with such pressure at anydesired point on the quadrant L. At the same time any necessaryelevation of the disk-gang by reason of passing over roots, stones, orother obstacles is permitted by the flexibility of the spring 0. Bymeans of the adjustability of the nut 2 upon the rod R and the degree ofoscillation of the lever P great range and detail are afforded as to thedegree of pressure to be exerted on the disk-gangs D.

S is the axle of the disk-gang, connected to the yoke E in any suitablemanner, and upon which are loosely seated the pipe-boxes T. The latterare provided with flanges 3 at each end, between which the disks X arerigidly seated by means of transverse bolts 5, passed through suchopposing flanges 3 and the disk X. The boxes T are also provided attheir respective ends with a projection 6 and recess 7, the projection 6of one box passing through the disk X and engaging the recess 7 of theadjacent end of the adjoining box T. All of the boxes T and disks X arethus united in one rotative body upon the axle S. Caps 8 are placed overthe extremity of the disk-gang to exclude dust, and the structure isfurther held together by the head 20 and the nut 9 on the axle S.

The chains 21, which connect the yoke E and thereby the disk-gan gs Dlaterally to the carrying-wheel spindles, are normally used in a slackcondition to permit vertical play to the disk-gangs D. To instantly takeup this slack, so the new direction of the carryingwheel will beimparted at once to the diskgangs, I project forwardly from the spindleII at about its pivotal seat a short horizontal arm 19, the front end ofwhich is connected by the chain 21 to the yoke E, whereby theoscillation of the arm 19 takes up said slack at the initiative of thechange of direction of the wheel A, which turns outward, and the outwardmovement of the wheels in their new direction carries the diskslaterally at once.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is

1. The combination, with the frame of a cultivator, of two beamspivotally connected therewith, a yoke for connecting said beams, a diskgang secured to the rear end of each beam, a graduated shoe upon eachbeam, a spring secured at one end upon the shoe, and provided at theopposite end with a guide, a lever pivotally secured to the frame, a rodsecured to one end of the lever and having its opposite end passedthrough the guide, and in detachable engagement with the yoke, and astop upon the rod above the guide, whereby downward pressure may beapplied to the disk gang through the lever, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the tongue 0, disk gang D, beam N connecting saiddisk gang pivotally with said tongue, spring 0 provided with coil 0 andeye 1 and seated on beam N, lever P adapted to be adjustably locked tothe quadrant L, rod R pivotally connected at its upper end, to theoperating end of lever P, and provided with nut 2 and projecteddownwardly through the eye 1 of spring 0 substantially as shown and forthe purpose described.

3. The combination of the beam B, the bar J, centrally pivoted thereto,a spindle II pivotally secured to each end of the beam, the inner end ofwhich is connected directly with the end of the bar J, a wheel, A, uponthe outer end of each spindle, and means for oscillating the bar and thespindles, whereby deflection is imparted to the wheels, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

R. K. SlVIFT.

"Witnesses J OHN J. A. ZELLER, JOHN G. MANAHAN.

